GEORGE TOWN, Malaysia: A 28-year-old factory worker cheated death when the car she was driving was rammed from behind by a rubbish lorry on the Bayan Lepas coastal highway here yesterday afternoon.

The victim, Goh Siew Lin, had stopped at the traffic light when the accident occurred.

The accident also resulted in a pile-up involving two cars and a lorry.

Goh was pinned to her seat for 35 minutes before firemen managed to get her out.

Bayan Baru Fire and Rescue Department chief Abd Rahim Ismail said they received a distress call at 2.02pm and arrived at the scene six minutes later.

He said nine firemen took about 35 minutes to get the victim out of the mangled wreck.

"She was taken to the Pantai Mutiara Hospital for treatment," he said.

Southwest district Traffic Department head Chief Inspector Mohd Zin Mat Ali said the woman sustained serious injuries when she was pinned to her seat following the knock from behind by the rubbish lorry, driven by a 44-year-old man.

He said police had taken a statement from the lorry driver and based on initial investigations, the rubbish lorry driver had failed to control his vehicle, causing it to ram into Goh's car.

"We are taking the rubbish lorry for a technical inspection to ascertain the cause of the accident," he said, adding that all those involved in the pile-up had lodged police reports.

Zin urged those with information on the accident to call the Southwest district police headquarters at 04-8662222.